Vienna, September 15 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has called for intensified international efforts to completely eliminate nuclear weapons, describing the goal as both a humanitarian responsibility and a moral imperative amid rising armed conflicts, nuclear arms competition and the growing use of force in international relations.
Speaking at the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi said multilateral action was needed to address growing threats to international peace and security.
His Excellency reaffirmed Qatar's support for the IAEA's independent and professional work to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, strengthen nuclear safety and security, and maintain an effective safeguards system to prevent nuclear proliferation.
He highlighted increasing geopolitical divisions and armed conflicts, including the ongoing Israeli military actions against the Palestinian people, the crisis in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, and the accelerating nuclear arms race.
Qatar called for stronger international support for arms control and disarmament mechanisms, with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty serving as a cornerstone of the global system. It also reaffirmed its support for efforts to establish a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons.
Dr. Al Hammadi stressed that nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards and dedicated exclusively to peaceful purposes are protected under international law, the UN Charter and the IAEA framework. He said Qatar rejected attacks on, or threats to attack, such facilities, warning that such actions would undermine regional and international peace and security.
Qatar also welcomed the IAEA Board of Governors' unanimous decision on Sept. 9, 2026, to remove the item concerning implementation of the safeguards agreement in Syria from the board's agenda.
The decision, he said, would allow Syria to restore its normal status within the agency and make greater use of peaceful nuclear applications to support development, reconstruction and stability.
Qatar further highlighted a USD 600,000 agreement signed through the Qatar Fund for Development to support IAEA projects under its Rays of Hope initiative, including efforts to strengthen radiotherapy capacity in Syria.
HE Al Hammadi said Qatar remained committed to nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, describing the IAEA as a key partner in expanding peaceful nuclear applications and strengthening nuclear and radiological security.
He also outlined Qatar's technical cooperation programs with the IAEA, which include strengthening regulatory oversight, improving radioactive waste management, developing national radiation monitoring capabilities including PET-MRI scan and researches aimed at combating Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), and enhancing food safety.
Qatar signed an agreement with the IAEA in February 2026 to update its national policy on radiation and nuclear security and strengthen the country's legal and regulatory framework.
Dr. Al Hammadi concluded by reaffirming Qatar's commitment to a strong and sustainable partnership with the IAEA, saying the agency had a crucial role in advancing international cooperation and developing legal frameworks aimed at ensuring a safe and sustainable future for nuclear energy and achieving the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. (QNA)
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